BGR Development News & Events

PWAs - What are they

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 12:19:32 GMT

PWAs - What are they?

PWAs. Otherwise called Progressive Web Apps. It’s a term and name you will start to see more and more off in this new decade. So what are they, who do they matter to and why do they matter?

What are they?

Originally announced in 2015, and first launched in 2016, PWAs have been around for a while, but in recent years started to gain traction, and will continue to grow in usage moving forwards.

PWAs blend websites and applications into a single experience. They are websites, but with the potential for limited access to local resources (like the camera or location of your phone, even push notifications).

They “install” on computers, phone and tablets and launch like an app, but unlike a traditional app, they don’t require updates from the Play Store or App Store (what seems like every other week with some apps - we all know those prompts about application X needs an update), they take up much less space on your device, and unlike a website, they don’t launch your entire Web browser to run.

Think of them as the bit parts of a website with the best parts of having apps.

Who do they matter to?

The answer is everyone. If you have a website, they matter, if you are a developer, they matter, and as end users, they matter because they will become more prevalent moving forwards - so it’s handy to know what they are.

Why do they matter?

Before PWAs, if you had a website and wanted people to easily access it - well that wasn’t really possible. People needed to bookmark the site, and load the full web browser every time they wanted to access it. You could build a companion app of course, but that would often cost multiple times more than what it cost for the website itself, and then that app needed to be constantly maintained and updated.

If you were a developer, you had to use something like Xamarin Forms to build your app to run across Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS, etc, or you had to build specific versions for each platform, requiring a lot of effort to do so.

By developing and using PWAs, you get the best of both worlds. People can interact with the website directly in their browsers, just like before (except the website will load quicker), or they can “install” the PWA and interact with it like an app.

In closing

So if you are a website owner, and your website doesn’t support PWAs, or your hosting platform (for example Squarespace) doesn’t natively support PWAs, then it’s a good time to consider switching to one that does (like ours or some of the other platforms like BigCommerce). If you are a developer, it’s a good set of skills to pick up to compliment your existing app development or web development skills.

PWAs aren’t suitable for all uses, but there is an increasing number of scenarios where they are - any website can benefit from them, and apps like Spotify, Netflix, Facebook, Uber, Twitter, Gmail, Google Drive, etc are all moving towards them or already use them, and Microsoft is even publishing them in the Microsoft Store on Windows.

PWAs are supported across all browsers (Chromium based, Safari and Firefox), and all platforms.

We will do more articles on PWAs throughout this year, and in the meantime if you have a website that isn't hosted with us, and you would like to discuss PWAs and how you can benefit from them, please feel free to reach out to us .

AR vs VR and what are they

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 12:09:15 GMT

AR vs VR and what are they?

AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) are two things that will get increasing attention as we head into the 3rd decade of the 21st century.

So what are they and why do they matter?

You can actually experience some of it now, in Google Maps when in walking navigation mode, you can turn on AR directions, and instead of a map and it telling you where to turn, the directions will be laid over the image of the real world viewable through your phone's camera.

Another is, open the Chrome browser on your smartphone and search for one of a dozen or so animals including Wolf, Penguin and more, in the search results, the animal will then present with a “view in 3d” option, when clicked, if your phone has AR support (such as the Samsung Galaxy phones, Google Pixel phones, and more) you will then get an option to view it in real life.

AR is showing up everywhere from retail, to cars, phones, and more. In retail it can be used to provide virtual change rooms. Simply stand in front of an AR enabled mirror, and the clothes you want to “try on” will be overlaid over the real life and real time image of you standing there. You can twirl etc and the overlaid clothes shift to reflect how they would look. In cars, it is appearing as HUDs (Heads Up Displays) for night vision for the driver, or overlaying key information like speed, revs, etc onto the window in front of the driver. Mercedes has even used it to overlay directions into the vision of the driver so that the directions are laid down on the street in front of you - making it even easier to know where to “turn right”. On phones it is being used for everything from interactive real world maps, to Pokemon Go, Minecraft Earth and other games, to the “stickers” you can place into pictures you take, and overlays on videos your shooting. AR will eventually make its way into most, if not all industries.

VR is different, in that it takes you completely out of the real world, and puts you in a virtual one. There is no cross-over with VR, you're either in the virtual environment, or you're not. Pure VR has much more limited uses, and so won’t gain the same level of mainstream usage that AR will. That said, you can expect limited usage of it to show up in gaming, with both the PlayStation and Xbox consoles providing support for VR gaming, and in some industrial environments where simulating, or replaying scenarios in VR enables a better understanding of things. For example - want to review drone footage in a way that puts you in the environment it was recording, or want to practice assembling a new item on a production line, before actually going out and producing that product for real? VR is very good for this.

An example of devices at the high end of AR and VR is Microsoft Hololens, which NASA is using to map out directions for the rovers on Mars. Using satellite and on ground imagery, they can put the rover into the environment, and drive it through that environment in VR mode, to map out the next leg of the journey. While in AR mode, the same Hololens units are being used at Ford for designing vehicles. They can take a base car, and use AR to overlay new designs for bumpers, etc onto that vehicle and see in real time and in 3 dimensions how those parts look. They can also interact with co-designers in other locations through this mix of real and virtual world that AR provides.

At the “low end” you have devices such as those based on Google Cardboard, which are nothing more than a holder for a smartphone. The apps then run on the smartphone and present you with either an AR or VR experience, depending on the particular apps.

In short, AR is what 3D never became, and it will start to appear more and more. VR has been around longer, has had less take up, and will likely stay as a niche thing - primarily because what is good about it, is also what will limit its wider use - it takes you out of the real world.

In the Code Classes this year we will touch on AR and VR, because as developers, these are technologies that are important to know about.

Smart Home Technology

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 12:02:56 GMT

Smart Home Technology

Smart Home technology continues to get a lot of press coverage, and as we head into the 3rd decade of the 21st century, it will only get more.

It includes everything from lights, security, TVs, speakers, fridges, air conditioners, and more.

We will focus on the core elements, and why they can be useful for everyone.

For lighting, we go with Philips Hue. They have a wide range of lighting products to suit most scenarios, the lights are fully controllable via the Philips Hue app, or via Google Home, and as personally experienced, implementing this lighting and controls, can enable a rather sizable reduction in your power bill. This is where the cost savings kick in.

While a set of lights can be a tad expensive, a starter kit could set you back just on $100 for the Hub, and the first two lights, and lights run from just over $20 per bulb all the way up to $130 for an outdoor spotlight (we can help with purchasing and ensure you don’t pay retail), the saving over the expected 25,000 hour lifespan of the bulbs will pay for itself a number of times over. Aside from the cost savings on your power bill, you can also feel good knowing you’re doing your part for reducing emissions - our household saved 25% off the power bill compared to before implementing these and smart power plugs - that’s 25% reduced emissions for 1 household, and a tidy saving per quarter.

A comparison of lighting

As you can see, smart LED lighting provides additional energy savings over the fluorescent bulbs (energy saving) many people moved to, and provides even greater energy savings over traditional bulbs, while also having a far longer lifespan than either. We mention “at peak brightness” for the smart bulb because another benefit with the smart lights is being able to adjust both the brightness, and depending on the type, color of the light being emitted, and any reduction in brightness is a further reduction in expected power usage.

The centre of the Smart Home

At the core of all smart home technology is the controllers. While each system tends to have it’s own app, or portal for control, choosing systems that tie into either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant provides a central way of controlling all the various elements without having a ton of different apps in the process.

The generally recognized leader at the moment is Amazon with Alexa, with Google in a close second with the Google Assistant. Apple trails far enough behind, and so few devices are released to support HomeKit/Siri, that we haven’t included them in any of our reviews we’ve done.

We primarily chose Google Assistant for the systems we implement as ironically for all the “Google tracks everything we do” rhetoric that we’re all used to, and likely partake in, their system has a higher level of privacy controls in it than the competing Amazon and Apple products.

So at the core you would have Google Home in the form of either just the smartphone app, or the app plus one or more Mini or Home speakers, and maybe a Home Hub display. The common, and logical place to start to then grow your smart home is with lighting and power control.

Lighting

Power Plugs

We have tested both TP Link Kasa Smart Plugs, and Philips Hue Smart Plugs, both are useful, however with Philips, it obviously ties back into the Hue app so you can control your lights and power plugs from either just the Hue app or the Google Home app / smart speakers. The Kasa system also integrates with the Home app though.

Smart Plugs enable you to remote control the power outlets for your TVs, heaters, basically anything you have plugged into a power socket currently. This can help reduce power usage, by remotely switching things off at the power socket, and for mobility impaired or elderly people, it enables them to regain total control over switching their devices on and off, where the sockets are harder to reach.

Additional Benefits

Having a combination of the Philips Hue and correctly placed and configured Google Mini or Google Home Hub speakers and/or displays also means that mobility impaired people regain total control of the lights and more in the household. So in this scenario it’s providing a higher quality of life and returning independence to people who may have otherwise been starting to lose those things, and this is the other side of smart home technology that is often overlooked.

As a parent it also provides you an easy way to make sure lights are turned off when not in use, and from a home security perspective, it allows you to control the lights on a schedule, so when you’re away it actually looks like someone is home. For the gimmick side of things, you can even integrate them with some home entertainment units and tvs, so that the lighting color will change in line with whatever it is that you’re watching on the TV or music you're playing.

Expanding out

Expanding out from the core, lighting and power, you then have assistant enabled devices like TVs, washing machines, air conditioners and more. There is a near endless number of devices across most ranges now starting to be released which have either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant support (or both) built in.

In business

For businesses, smart technology can bring the same benefits as they do in your home. Reduced power bills through better, and extremely more efficient lighting, and better control over devices plugged into power sockets. Do you, for example, have display lighting that is plugged into a power socket presently, and each night when you shut the business you turn it on, and then each morning you turn it off? With a smart plug, you could schedule it to turn off at say midnight, so now instead of maybe 12-14 hours of running each night, it would run for maybe 6 - there’s a 50% reduction in power usage on one item right there.

To find out how smart technology might be best suited in your home or business, reach out to us for a free review and report.

Home Security

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 11:50:37 GMT

Home Security

Home security used to involve spending thousands of dollars installing sensors, and cameras and more, and then paying a fee for an external company to monitor it all for you.

But it’s 2020, and technology has come a long way in the past 20 years.

You can now have a camera which alerts you on your phone for as little as $300 or less, ranging up to fully integrated smart systems with multiple cameras, door and window sensors, onsite and cloud based recording, for under $2,000.

Camera systems are available from a wide range of vendors today, and come in a wide range of configurations. From battery powered, wireless cameras, to cable based cameras that draw power from the data cable, and wireless cameras which plug into a power outlet, and systems that store the footage locally, to varying levels of storage in the cloud.

Mixed in with these, some of the vendors also provide door and window sensors that integrate to work alongside the cameras to protect your home. Some even integrate with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to provide control and provide live streams via compatible devices.

Key companies to look at at eufy (which is from Anker - the company many people know for their battery packs, chargers, and more), Arlo (by Netgear, commonly know for their modems and routers, oh and both Telstra and Optus mobile hotspots), Ring (by Amazon, no introduction needed), Nest (by Google, again no introduction necessary), Netatmo (previously know for their personal weather stations), and the lower end (read not as good quality wise) Swann Security products. For businesses, there is also Ubiquiti (known for its great range of UniFi networking equipment), and a range of other business grade solutions available.

All of this can then be combined with door security solutions from Clay, Apero, Kisi, Yale (owned by Nest, owned by Google), and more for home, and small businesses, up to Protege and HID combination solutions for larger businesses or environments with options including card swiping, mobile phone/smartwatch swiping, digital pin pads, number plate recognition and more - at that level it can also integrate with building management systems for lighting, heating and cooling, and more, and motion sensors, and more for enhanced security functionality.

We generally recommend looking at the eufy and Arlo range for homes, and the eufy, Arlo and Ubiquiti ranges for businesses depending on the area to be monitored.

On the home front, the eufy equipment is battery powered (a single charge can last up to a year or more), and it can integrate both cameras and window/door sensors. Arlo is also a good option, and can either be battery powered, or plugged into mains power. There is also a solar panel add-on that can be combined with the cameras when in battery mode to essentially provide continuous power through the battery being recharged each day. With both, footage is stored locally, with a cloud option, and can be accessed remotely via an app - even on an ADSL level connection. Nest provides cameras which require mains power, and are cloud connected - they don’t have a local storage option through a base station like eufy and Arlo do, and require a better internet connection to work. For pricing you’re looking at retail starting from $800 for a two camera plus base station eufy setup, or 2 camera plus base station Arlo setup, and around $560 for a two camera Nest setup..

On the business front, the same eufy and Arlo systems can be used, or in environments with larger coverage requirements, or where the WiFi based cameras won’t be suitable, Ubiquiti provides a good solution. The UniFi Video range is almost limitless in terms of how many cameras can be installed. To start off, and for cost comparison, a 2 camera plus base station setup would be approximately $950 plus installation.

If you are interested in improving your home or business security, please reach out to us for a free review and report.

Code Classes 2020

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 11:45:11 GMT

Code Classes 2020

After a successful initial trial in the later half of 2019, Code Classes have returned for 2020.

We are continuing our support of this initiative at Mallee Rising to make coding more accessible for people in our region.

Learning to code provides not just skills that open up new career opportunities, it also provides valuable skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and engrains resilience.

The initial trial last year was quite successful, we already have one student who is rapidly working towards starting to publish add-ons for Minecraft.

The structure we’re using initially is a guided self-paced structure of lessons that you can work through at a pace you are comfortable. Learning to code isn’t a race after all. Once these lessons are completed, we move you onto an intermediate level of learning, and from there onto learning industry languages.

We will also run some special classes this year around AI and machine learning, robotics, and introduce another stream of learning that expands on the current “just starting out” level of learning.

The classes are free to attend, and are suitable from ages 8 and upwards. Your never too old to learn new tricks. We run them every Saturday between 11AM and midday in Mallee Rising.

You can register here , or just turn up on the day (preferably register to help us with managing class sizes).

Service Reminder - Purchasing

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 09:09:20 GMT

For: Everyone

This is a refresher on one of the services we provide that is particularly timely with Black Friday / Cyber Monday coming up.

Through our purchasing service, we provide competitive (and by that I mean usually cheaper) pricing on all your technology needs. This ranges from computers, networking equipment, printers for home and office, to phones, tv’s, audio systems, and more. If it has a power plug, we can most likely source it. If our supply chains can’t do it for cheaper, and we can find somewhere else that does, we let you know.

We have both home and business grade equipment, and with all purchases, offer an optional flat fee installation service.

So reach out to us for a quote the next time you are looking to purchase something technology wise.

Examples of the kind of pricing we can provide are below.

NOTE - pricing is current as it 3 November 2019, and is for comparison purposes only. We always provide a current quote as part of the process to ensure we can get you the best pricing we can at the time. Additionally, pricing shown doesn’t include freight.

Printers

Televisions

Computers

Note - we recommend Dell, combined with the optional 3 year NBD Support from them. That way, should something hardware fail during the first 3 years, it gets fixed onsite within days - no having to be without for a couple of weeks while you send it back somewhere to be fixed.

Audio Systems

Smartphones

Coffee Machines

Smart Devices & Wearables

Windows 7 End of Life - Fast Approaching

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 08:16:20 GMT

For: Anyone still running Windows 7

If you’re not aware already, Windows 7 goes End of Life on January 14 2020. What does this mean? Basically that in roughly 2 months from now, it will no longer be supported by Microsoft. As Microsoft ends support, this means shortly afterwards companies that make other products like web browsers, accounting software, etc that run on Windows 7 will also stop supporting their products on it - the exact timing for each will vary, but based on past history, it starts happening pretty quickly.

What are your options?

You have four options really.

Option 1 - Do Nothing

This entails continuing to run Windows 7. The risk here is that you will be exposing yourself to ever increasing security risks, and will not be able to get support for applications running on it. Basically it’s the least viable option to choose if you like being safe online, and we strongly recommend against this.

Option 2 - Upgrade Windows

The second option you have is to either attempt to get a free upgrade using the Media Creation Tool or buy Windows 10, and attempt to run it on your computer. There is no guarantee it will actually install and work correctly, leaving you with the next option.

Option 3 - Upgrade your machine

The third option is to upgrade your machine. Any new Windows based computer purchased will include Windows 10. This is the cleanest, least risk option as you know the computer will run Windows 10, and will be supported for at least 3 years, if not longer.

Option 4 - Move away from Windows

The final option is to move away from Windows. The computer could either be rebuilt with Chrome OS or Linux if you’re feeling adventurous, or you could buy yourself a Chromebook or Apple Mac. The pitfall here is if you use software that is locally installed and specific to Windows it won’t work on either of the other platforms. However, if you only use cloud based software, then rebuilding to Chrome OS is a viable option that is free, and doesn’t require any new hardware. The upside of this option is no more dealing with 6 monthly Windows 10 upgrades..

If you would like assistance (including recommendations, help with trying to upgrade your current machine to Windows 10, or purchasing new hardware) please reach out to us via our website , or at enquiries@bgrdevelopment.com.au .

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 08:13:09 GMT

For: Everyone

Well it’s that time of the year again already. Halloween has just been and gone, for Americans, Thanksgiving is the next thing on their mind, for us it’s Melbourne Cup. November is also time for Remembrance Day.

In what started as an American tradition, and has now spread globally, it’s also the time of the year when Black Friday / Cyber Monday lands. This is one of the best times of the year for buying technology items (actually buying in general, but particularly tech items).

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving, and Cyber Monday is the Monday immediately after that. So the last Friday in November each year followed by the very next Monday. As is the way with retail shopping trends though, it has spread out over roughly 2 weeks before, to a week after those dates now, but with the main concentration of specials being from Friday to Monday.

Some of the early specials that have already “leaked” are around smart home devices and TV’s. No real big surprises there though as smart home tech and smart TVs are always a good seller for the retail chains.

You can expect to see a wide range of discounts on most tech items though.

So if you are on the hunt for something new, we can help. Simply reach out to us early with what you are looking for, we will add it to our watch list, and as soon as we see a good discount pop up we’ll let you know.

You can reach out via enquiries@bgrdevelopment.com.au or via our website .

Website Security - more changes coming

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 08:07:08 GMT

For: Everyone with a website

Google is making more changes to how it shows “secure” sites in Chrome over the coming months. No longer is simply having SSL enabled good enough, moving forwards all the site content will need to be secure, otherwise the website will show a warning instead of the padlock in the address bar.

Up until now, the two main things every website should have are SSL (so that it gets a padlock in the address bar) and be mobile friendly.

Starting in December every website should ensure every component is secured properly. This means sites that use iFrames, or images, or pointers to resources (pictures, videos etc) that are stored elsewhere are affected.

By the time February rolls around the behaviour will change from showing a warning in the address bar (it will still do that) to outright blocking sections of the site that aren’t configured correctly.

To summarise, I'll use a quoted recommendation “Webmasters are advised to look into making sure their websites don't load any resources over HTTP anymore. This includes iframes, cookies, CSS files, JavaScript files, audio, video, and especially images”.

If you’re website doesn’t show with a padlock today, you’re already behind the proverbial eight ball and should get onto your hosting provider (or change to a better one).

If yours is a site hosted by us - good news - your site is already prepared for these changes and there is nothing to do.

For those with websites hosted by others, it wouldn't hurt to reach out to ask if your site will be covered by these changes.

Finally for more on the changes, you can find the announcement from Google here .

Backing up your photos

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 07:54:40 GMT

For: Everyone with a smartphone

A question I often get during Tech Tuesdays is around backing up photos from smartphones / tablets.

The answer depends on a couple of things.

If you’re on an Android phone (Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, Nokia, etc - basically any smartphone that’s not an iPhone) then the best option is to use Google Photos.

If your on an iPhone you have a couple of choices, being iCloud or Google Photos.

You can also use Microsoft OneDrive or Dropbox among a number of other options available. Below we cover Google Photos, Apple iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox.

Google Photos

Android

Before you start, make sure you're signed in.

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Photos app.
Sign in to your Google Account.
At the top, tap Menu (the Hamburger icon).
Select Settings and then Back up & sync.
Tap "Back up & sync" on or off.

If you've run out of storage, scroll down and tap Turn off backup.

iPhone

Open the Google Photos app.
Sign in to your Google Account.
At the top, tap Menu (the Hamburger icon).
Select Settings and then Back up & sync.
Tap "Back up & sync" on or off.

If you see a message asking to allow the app to access your photos:

Open the iOS settings app and then tap Privacy and then Photos.
Turn on Google Photos.

Apple iCloud

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 10.3 or later, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos, then turn on iCloud Photos.

Microsoft OneDrive

Android

To add photos or videos to OneDrive individually, open the OneDrive app, tap the Upload button, tap Upload photos and videos, choose the files you want to upload, and then tap UPLOAD.

To save photos and videos you take to OneDrive automatically (Android 4.0 or later only):

Open the OneDrive app.
Open Settings and tap Camera backup.
Set Camera backup to ON.

iPhone

To add photos or videos to OneDrive individually, open the OneDrive app, tap the More button in the upper right, tap Add Items, and then choose what you want to upload.

To save photos and videos you take to OneDrive automatically:

Tap Settings, and then tap Camera Backup.
Turn on Camera Backup.

Dropbox

iOS: iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

Open the Dropbox mobile app.
Tap Dropbox on the bottom of the screen.
Tap Camera Uploads.
Toggle Camera Uploads to on.
Tap Upload.

Android phone

Open the Dropbox app.
Tap the menu button.
Tap Settings.
Under Camera uploads, tap Turn on camera uploads.
Tap Allow.

Google Pixel 4 Launched

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 05:39:37 GMT

The new generation of Pixel 4 phones have been launched. These replaced the Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL from 2018 which were regularly reviewed as having the best cameras ever on a smartphone.

The new generation bring even better cameras, better screens, better battery life, and better Google Assistant experiences, along with a real time transcription function for taking notes in meetings, lectures, etc.

There are two models, the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. The main differences being the screen sizes and battery life. The Pixel 4 has a 5.7” screen, and the Pixel 4 XL has a 6.3” screen. The Pixel 4 XL comes with roughly 1/3rd more battery storage than the Pixel 4.

The new camera setup includes a standard lens and a telephoto lens. The upgraded Neural Core enables even better photos in all lighting conditions. Night Sight, which was already extremely good at night time photos, has been upgraded further with Astrophotography mode enabling taking photos of the night time sky.

Google Assistant has been further improved with the addition of its own onboard processor to allow for more responses to occur locally, rather than going back to the cloud.

The Pixel 4 starts at $1,049 and the Pixel 4 XL starts at $1,279.

If you’re in the market for the new flagship phone these are a compelling choice compared to the iPhones. The Pixel 4 is cheaper than the iPhone 11, and the Pixel 4 XL is cheaper than both the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. You also get more cloud storage with Google Photos, better photos than with the iPhones, and get monthly security updates for Android.

If you were in the market for a cheaper phone, the Pixel 3A and 3A XL make compelling choices at $649 and $799 RRP respectively. They have the same cameras as last year's Pixel 3 phones, so are on par with this year's iPhones, but for half the price.

If you would like any more information, or a quote on one of the phones, just reach out to us either via our website , or at enquiries@bgrdevelopment.com.au .

Made by Google Event

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 05:36:21 GMT

Once again Google held their “Made by Google” event in October. Apple and Microsoft had already held their events, so Google was the last one out of the gate.

This year saw the new Pixel 4 line of phones announced, along with new Google Pixel Buds as their answer to the Apple AirPods and Microsoft Surface Earbuds, a new Google Nest Mini speaker, the new Nest WiFi, and the Pixelbook Go.

Pixel 4 Phones

We cover the phones in a separate article here . But the headline elements are that there were two new Pixels announced to replace last years Pixel 3 phones, and the cameras were taken to a new level, which was no mean feat given the Pixel 3 cameras were regularly reviewed as being the best ever in a smartphone.

Pixel Buds 2

For the second generation of the Pixel Buds, Google has cut the cord and these are now completely wireless in the same vein as the Apple AirPods. They include adaptive sound, which adjusts the volume based on ambient noise, hands-free Google Assistant access and improved microphones.

Google Nest Mini

Google is rebranding all of its in home smart devices to the Nest brand, and the Mini and WiFi were the latest products to receive the rebrand alongside the launch of the new versions. The new Nest Mini is the second generation of the Google Mini speakers. This generation has picked up the ability to be wall mounted, the speakers have been upgraded for better sound and they now have an onboard machine learning chip for faster Google Assistant responses.

Nest WiFi

The second generation of Google WiFi was released. Google WiFi is their in home mesh WiFi network solution, which has been selling in very large numbers. It is quick to setup and configure, and provides extended coverage across your entire home for a better WiFi experience. With the second generation, Google Assistant has been integrated into the second (and third if used) access points, and comes with improved WiFi coverage and speeds.

Pixelbook Go

A new Pixelbook was added to the Pixelbook family. The Go is a cheaper version of the Pixelbook - Google's flagship Chromebook laptop. Unlike the flagship though, the Go doesn’t have pen input, and can’t swivel the screen through 360 degrees. It does have similar internal specs, so the performance is on par, and of course it has similar great battery life that puts most other laptops to shame.

If you would like any additional information, or a quote, on any of these, just reach out to us via our website , or at enquiries@bgrdevelopment.com.au .

Windows 10 November 19 Release

Sun, 20 Oct 2019 05:30:17 GMT

The next semi-annual release of Windows 10 will be rolling out very soon. This is version 1909. Unlike past 6 monthly upgrades, this one will be very minor.

It’s focus is on stability, and sets up for a larger update in April next year.

The get the 1909 upgrade, you should be on 1903 already. You can check your Windows version by clicking on the Start Menu, then Settings (the gear icon). On the screen that comes up click on System and scroll to the bottom of the left menu and click About.

Scroll down on the screen on the right to Windows Specifications, and look at the Version number.

It’s important to get current as the version 1803 will no longer be receiving patches from November (next month). If your current version is 1809, then you have a little longer before this happens - May next year (2020) to be precise.

Some machines will be too old and simply can’t be upgraded, and so will need to be replaced, while others will need more prodding to get them to upgrade.

If your machine is stuck on 1803 or earlier, we suggest reaching out to use via our website or on support@bgrdevelopment.com.au to seek help in getting updated.

Microsoft Surface Event

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 05:27:43 GMT

Microsoft held its annual Surface event in early October.

This year it announced the next generation of the Surface Pro line, the next generation of the Surface Laptop, a new Surface Pro X tablet and new Surface Earbuds.

It also showed two new upcoming devices to be released at the end of next year. These were the Surface Duo and Surface Neo.

The Duo and Neo are two new dual screened devices. The Neo is a dual screened tablet, than can have a keyboard attached. It aims to be your tablet and your laptop all in one handy dual screened device that will run a special version of Windows 10 - Windows 10 X. The Duo will be Microsoft’s first Android phone. It is a dual screened device that can be used either in single screen mode like traditional smartphones or dual screen mode similar to a tablet.

The upgraded Surface Pro line receives the newest Intel processors, improvements to the screen and battery, and adds USB C for the first time. Pricing starts at $1,249 RRP.

The Surface Laptop has done away with the Alcantara keyboard (thankfully as it gets grubby very easily), has the latest Intel processors, and picks up USB C for the first time. It also now comes in two sizes of 13” or 15” screen. Pricing starts at $1,669 RRP.

The Surface Pro X is a lightweight, thinner version of the Surface Pro that runs Windows 10 S mode (where you can only install applications from the Microsoft Store) and uses a custom processor built by Microsoft. It’s primarily targeted at taking on Chromebooks and iPads. It also has LTE (mobile) connectivity built in. Pricing starts at $1,699 RRP.

If you would like any additional information on any of these, just reach out to us via our website or at enquiries@bgrdevelopment.com.au .

iPhone 11 launched

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 05:23:01 GMT

In September the new iPhone 11 series of iPhones was launched.

The three models introduced this year are the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

They received improvements in the core processor (so run faster), bring camera improvements, and improved battery life.

The main differences are in screen size, battery and cameras between the three.

The iPhone 11 retains the dual camera setup from last years phones, has a 6.1” screen and picks up Night Mode for improved photos at night. It starts at $1,199 RRP and so is the cheapest of the three models this year.

The iPhone 11 Pro is the smallest of the three with a 5.8” screen, but picks up the new triple camera setup, which uses 1 wide-angle, 1 telephoto and 1 ultra wide-angle lens to combine for better photos than previous models. Like the iPhone 11, it also picks up Apple’s Night Mode for better photos in low light (aka night) conditions. It also has slightly better battery life than the iPhone 11. It starts at $1,749 RRP.

The iPhone 11 Max Pro is the biggest of the group with a 6.5” screen, it also has the best battery life of the three. It uses the same triple camera setup as the iPhone 11 Pro with the new Night Mode. With a starting price of $1,899 RRP it’s also the most expensive of the three.

So if your in the hunt for a new iPhone, which is the best one to pick? That depends on what you’re primarily looking for.

If it’s simply to be on the current generation of iPhones, then the iPhone 11 would be the best pick for your wallet.
If you’re after better photos than your current iPhone, then the Pro or Pro Max is the way to go.
If you’re looking for the smaller screen size then the iPhone 11 Pro is the way to go, and conversely if you’re after a larger screen, then the iPhone 11 Pro Max is the choice.

Budget computers - what are they really worth

Sun, 20 Oct 2019 05:15:47 GMT

I often get asked for advice regarding buying a cheap Windows computer to replace an existing computer that is running slowly, and my response is always the same - save up for a better one.

If we use typical “cheap” computer under $600, or even a “moderately priced” one as under $1,000, they will generally have older style spinning hard drives, or low end processors. They often have low levels of memory as well (under 8GB).

Essentially any or all of these, will result in an experience that is not noticeably different to the “slow computer” you’re trying to replace. As such you’re likely to spend up to $600 or more, and for no return.

The laptops and desktops I sell are all in the low $1,000 range - except where higher end equipment is specifically needed. For the $1,200 - $1,300 range you end up with a computer that will be quite noticeably quicker than your last computer, and which will remain fast throughout its lifespan. It also has onsite repair for the first 3 years of its life.

So if we compare cost per year for the devices, a $600 device will be slow enough to be frustrating within the first year. But we’ll be generous and say that it last 2 years. That works out as $300 per year, and if it has a hardware fault, you’ll likely be without for at least 2 weeks while you send it away to be repaired under warranty.

Now for $1,200 - $1,300 you will have a device that is good for 3 - 5 years (if not longer). If again, we’re generous and go with the 5 year end of the life span, then the cost works out as $200 per year. Added to this, if there is a hardware fault in the first 3 years, a repair technician will be there within a couple of days to fix it on site, this not leaving you without your computer for up to 2 weeks.

So the wiser buying decision is to get the more expensive computer upfront as over its lifetime you’ll actually be spending less, and will have a much quicker computer to go with it.

If you are looking for a cheaper option that should provide a solid experience, and only use cloud based services (email, web browsing, etc.), then a viable option to look at is Chromebooks. They run Google’s Chrome OS and can be purchased from as little as $349. For more on Chromebooks, see a previous article we did here .

If you're looking for a new computer, reach out to us via our website , or drop us an email at enquiries@bgrdevelopment.com.au to get some quotes based on your requirements.

Small Business Digital Engagement

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 07:38:33 GMT

Recently Swan Hill made it into The Australian for being the most entrepreneurial town in Australia. It has 117 registered businesses per 1,000 residents, which was well above the Australian average of 92 per 1,000. So well done to the Swan Hill region.

However simply being entrepreneurial isn’t enough these days, you also need a good digital engagement strategy, combined with a solid IT environment, which you get by either working with advisors with experience across both IT and business or companies that have partnered to cover both.

Deloitte published a report entitled “Small businesses digital trends: accelerating digital engagement” in early August that highlights the importance of digital uptake in small businesses.

A large part of what I spend my days doing is working with local businesses to identify and implement ways to improve their digital engagement. This comes backed by 24 years of IT industry experience, doing the very same work for some of Australia’s largest corporations (and even a stint with the state government). We work with businesses on the bigger picture, which includes Digital Enablement items as one element. As all that Digital Enablement work is for nothing if you’re using an outdated smartphone, or your PC is extremely slow, or you internet is slow/intermittent, or the cloud solutions you use hinder, rather than enhance your productivity.

Key findings in the Deloitte report were -

For the first time, over half of small businesses (55%) have achieved ‘high’ or ‘advanced’ levels of digital engagement in 2019, up from 39% estimated in similar research in 2017
Small businesses moving from basic to advanced digital engagement see a 60% increase in revenue per employee and on average earned 28% higher revenue growth in the last 12 months
The most commonly cited barrier to small business digital engagement is cost
51% of businesses with basic levels of digital engagement don’t understand the potential benefits of digital engagement
More businesses are using social media for their online presence before establishing a business website.

Other items noted were -

“Different businesses will engage with digital in different ways, but to do so only a basic or intermediate level, risks lost opportunity, stagnation and even failure in the face of competition.”

“One measure of this is revenue per employee, and advanced digital uptake results in a 60% increase on this front, and relative to businesses with basic levels of digital engagement, those with advanced levels on average earned 28% higher revenue growth in the last 12 months.”

“It’s concerning that over half of businesses with basic levels of digital engagement don’t fully understand the benefits of digital engagement.”

Deloitte produced similar information for the NBN in 2016/2017. The rankings for level of digital engagement are as follows -

We help businesses who at various levels move all the way to the High or Advanced levels, using our over two decades of experience, and unique combination of business and technical knowledge gained working with businesses of all sizes across numerous industries. But while that covers the points used by Deloitte, NBN Co, and the government for categorising levels of Digital Enablement, we also work on the bigger picture, which includes the age and type of PCs you are using, your internet connection, smart devices, whether the cloud solutions you use provide the best value of money, business process improvement where relevant, and so much more.

If you would like to discuss any of these items, or arrange to have a free review of your current situation, along with recommendations of how your business could improve it’s ranking of Digital Enablement, please reach out either via our website, or drop us an email at enquiries@bgrdevelopment.com.au .

Chromebooks - What are they

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 07:33:58 GMT

Chromebooks are part of a range of PC equipment made to run on Chrome OS. Chrome OS is a Google operating system (other well known operating systems for PCs are Windows, Mac OS, and Linux). Along with Chromebooks - which are laptops, there are also Chromeboxs - which are more traditional PC style boxes.

Chrome OS is also available for installing on most existing PC’s, so is a great way to reuse old hardware that might not be suitable for Windows any more.

Background

Chrome OS is an operating system created by Google. It is based on Chromium OS - an open source operating system. Originally it was targeted at the education market and essentially just ran web based applications. In the past year it has also gained the ability to run Android apps, Linux applications and to run some applications offline (i.e. no internet connection).

Ideal uses

If you don’t use applications installed locally in Windows, or could do with not using them, then Chrome OS devices (Chromebooks / Chromeboxes) could be ideal for you. They perform better than comparable Windows systems, don’t have any of the driver or update issues, and can run on hardware 5 years or older without much, if any, trouble.

Google based devices

Devices that ship with Chrome OS are made by Acer, Asus, Samsung, Google, Dell and HP amongst others. Prices can range from a few hundred dollars into the $2000+ range.

The devices will generally receive 5 years of updates from when they were released.

Cloudready

Cloudready is a version of Chrome OS developed directly from the Chromium OS project. It can be installed on a large number of devices, and is perfect for older Windows PCs that can no longer run the current version of Windows - i.e. if it is stuck on Windows 7 and can’t be upgraded.

It makes a great, free way to reuse old hardware.

In Summary

If you are looking for a solid solution and use web based products then a Chromebook makes a great option for you. Through running Android apps, the devices are more functional than ever, and from a “support” perspective, they require much less effort than a Windows or Mac machine does.

If you are curious and would like to see one in action, feel free to reach out to us via the website, or at enquiries@bgrdevelopment.com.au .

Android 10

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 07:31:11 GMT

The next release of Android has now been released. This year Google has broken with tradition and not named it after a desert - I guess after Pie everyone was too full. So this years annual release of the next version of Android is simply called Android 10.

When is it available?

If you are on a Google Pixel phone, or Essential Phone, then the upgrade is already available. Just head into your phone's Settings, then System -> System update, and click “Check for update” if it isn’t already showing.

If you are using a Nokia phone from the x.1 series onward, it should become available starting in November. If it is from the original generation it looks like aside from the 8 Sirocco, there won’t be an upgrade coming for the 2+ year old phones.

If you are using a Samsung - don’t look forward to getting the update until sometime in 2020 at the earliest. Samsung is notoriously bad at releasing security updates, let alone Android upgrades. Additionally it appears only devices released this year and in 2018 will get the update (when it eventually arrives).

For all other manufacturers, you can have a look through this article to see if your phone is included in the currently available information.

New features

Some of the key new features include -

Smart Reply
Sound Amplifier
Gesture Controls
Location Control
Notifications Improvements

Smart Reply

In Android 10, you get more than just suggested responses to your messages. You also get recommended actions. So, if a friend asks you out to dinner, your phone will suggest you text "��". Then, it’ll also pull up directions right in Google Maps. It even works in messaging apps like Signal.

Sound Amplifier

With Sound Amplifier, your phone can boost sound, filter background noise, and fine tune to how you hear best. Whether talking to your best friend, watching TV, or listening to a lecture — just plug in your headphones and hear everything more clearly.

Gesture Controls

Gestures are now quicker and more intuitive than ever. Go backwards and forwards, pull up the homescreen, and swipe up to see your open apps. All super smooth.

Location Control

Android is finally getting more granular control over how an app can use location information. Currently, you can give an app access to your location either all the time or not all. With Android 10, you will gain the option of letting an app access your location information only while you're actively using the app. Not only is this a privacy matter, but it's sure to help save on battery life.

Notifications Improvements

When you long-press an alert, you're now given two different options: Alerting and Silent. Selecting Alerting will allow the app to make sound with each new alert. Silent will not make a sound or cause your phone to vibrate. You can further tailor how notifications behave by going into Settings > Apps & notifications > Notifications.

This is a small but important feature because you no longer have to dig into the Settings app to figure out how to customize an app's alerts. You simply long-press, pick an option and you're done.

For a full run down visit https://www.android.com/android-10/

If you are in the market for a new phone and would like assistance, or a quote, please reach out to use via the website, or via email at enquires@bgrdevelopment.com.au .

Windows 7 End of Life - Fast Approaching

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 07:27:04 GMT

If you’re not aware already, Windows 7 goes End of Life on January 14 2020. What does this mean? Basically that in roughly 4 months from now, it will no longer be supported by Microsoft. As Microsoft makes it, this means shortly afterwards companies that make other products like web browsers, accounting software, etc that run on Windows 7 will also stop supporting their products on it.

What are your options?

You have four options really.

Option 1 - Do Nothing

Option 2 - Upgrade Windows

The second option you have is to buy Windows 10, having missed the free upgrade period, and attempt to run it on your computer. There is no guarantee it will actually install and work correctly. If it doesn’t work you can't get your money back. So the risk here is spending money to buy Windows 10 and having it not work.

Option 3 - Upgrade your machine

Option 4 - Move away from Windows

The final option is to move away from Windows. The computer could either be rebuilt with Chrome OS, or you could buy yourself a Chromebook or Apple Mac. The pitfall here is if you use software that is locally installed and specific to Windows. However, if you only use cloud based software, then rebuilding to Chrome OS is a viable option that is free, and doesn’t require any new hardware. The upside of this option is no more dealing with 6 monthly Windows 10 upgrades..

If you would like assistance (including recommendations or purchasing of hardware) please reach out to us via the website, or at enquiries@bgrdevelopment.com.au .

Staying Safe Online

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 07:22:50 GMT

I recently presented a session during the Digital Innovation Week hosted by Mallee Rising on Staying Safe in a Digital World.

We went through home, business and public networks, operating systems, web browsers, websites in general, email clients and emails, smartphones, computers, passwords and links and pop-ups.

This is a summary of the recommendations that went along with the information provided during the session.

Home Networks

Recommendation 1

Change the default password of the router

Recommendation 2

Change the names and passwords on the default Wi-Fi networks (except Telstra Air / Fon Networks)

Recommendation 3

Check for firmware updates

Recommendation 4

Periodically check for unknown devices

Business Networks

Recommendation 1

Change the default password of the router

Recommendation 2

Change the names and passwords on the default Wi-Fi networks (except Telstra Air / Fon Networks)

Recommendation 3

Check for unknown devices

Recommendation 4

Check for firmware updates

Recommendation 5

Setup a separate secured guest network for your clients to use - if “free” wi-fi for clients is something you would like to offer

Recommendation 6

Look into purchasing new network components to use for your business network to further increase your network security and performance. Specifically - a new modem, a security gateway, a switch and at least one Wi-Fi access point. All of this can be acquired starting around $1,500 - $2,000 and provides an enterprise grade solution. Cheaper options are possible depending on individual circumstances, obviously more expensive solutions are available as well (but aren’t always better)

Public Networks

These are “open” networks that require no authentication to use.

Recommendation 1

Just say no. Never use them - ever - anywhere - period

One last network recommendation

When you join a network for the first time, be careful if prompted to “see other PCs and devices”. Only say yes if you are on your home network, or on your work network.

Operating Systems

Recommendation 1

Check for updates to the current version

Windows - 1903, MacOS - Mojave, Chrome OS - 76, iOS - 12.4, Android - 9 with August 2019 security level

Recommendation 2

If your device is too old to get current updates, replace it

Recommendation 3

Review your security software

Recommendation 4

Don’t install things like CCleaner, and if you have, uninstall them

Web Browsers

Recommendation 1

Periodically check for updates

Recommendation 2

Consider switching to a Chromium based browser

Google Chrome, Brave, Vivaldi, Edge “Chrome” Preview, Chromium, Opera, to name a few

Websites

Recommendation 1

Avoid sites that don’t have the padlock in the address bar

Recommendation 2

If you’re a business, and your site isn’t showing as secured, contact your hosting provider, or talk to us about changing

Recommendation 3

Don’t open any download you didn’t intentionally trigger, and don’t accept any download you didn’t intentionally trigger

Recommendation 4

Use your security software’s plug-in for the web browser. If it doesn’t have one, switch to software that does

Email Clients

Recommendation 1

Keep them updated

Recommendation 2

Avoid third party ones. Stick to Outlook, Gmail, and the default clients on Mac OS, iOS and Windows.

Email

Recommendation 1

Don’t disclose account details in response to a request by email

Recommendation 2

If you use Outlook, your security software should provide a plug-in for extra security - use it

Recommendation 3

Look for obvious signs of fake email. Weird domain names, logos aren’t quite right, links don’t go to the company website when you preview the link (don’t actually click them initially)

Common domains are Telstra - telstra.com, Origin Energy - origin.com.au, Government - gov.au / vic.gov.au / nsw.gov.au etc., VicRoads - vicroads.vic.gov.au, Apple - apple.com, Microsoft - microsoft.com, Google - google.com, learn the ones for the companies you most frequently deal with.

Smartphone / Computer Security

Recommendation 1

Find my phone - a great tool for finding a lost / stolen device.

Recommendation 2

Use a 6 digit pin, password or biometrics to secure the device. A 4 digit pin can be broken in roughly 6.5 minutes vs 11 hours for a 6 digit pin.

Not using some form of security is like always leaving your home unlocked.

Passwords

Recommendation 1

Use a password manager. We recommend Bitwarden, but other popular ones include 1Password, LastPass and OneLogin.

Recommendation 2

Use MFA/2FA (Multi-Factor Authentication/Two Factor Authentication) wherever possible.

If you would like to know more, or have any queries, please feel free to reach out to us via our website or at enquiries@bgrdevelopment.com.au

Purchasing Service

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 06:49:23 GMT

We provide competitive (and by that I mean usually cheaper) pricing on all your technology needs. This ranges from computers, networking equipment, printers for home and office, to phones, tv’s, audio systems, and more. If it has a power plug, we can most likely source it.

We have both home and business grade equipment, and with all purchases, offer an optional flat fee installation service.

So reach out to us for a quote the next time you are looking to purchase something technology wise.

Some indicative examples of the kind of pricing we can provide are below.

NOTE - All prices were current at 10 / 08 / 2019. Pricing is for comparison only, and we always quote on the most current pricing at the time.

Printers

Televisions

Note - we recommend LG televisions as they have a much better WiFi card in them, making them more future proof for things like watching Netflix. They are also one of the two best TV panel makers left (the other being Samsung). Finally because unlike some Hisense TVs we've seen, the LG's don't ship with the Chinese firmware (aka state security monitoring) in them.

Computers

Note - we recommend Dell, combined with the optional 3 year NBD Support from them. That way, should something hardware fail during the first 3 years, it gets fixed onsite within 1 - 2 business days - no having to be without for a couple of weeks while you send it back somewhere to be fixed.

Audio Systems

Smartphones

Coffee Machines

Smart Devices

Controlling Your Privacy Online

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 06:23:03 GMT

Learn what options you have, and how to control your privacy online with the main providers - Google, Microsoft and Apple.

Each major provider has a website which links to all the privacy guides for the products they provide.

Microsoft

If you have a Microsoft account - usually .hotmail.com, .live.com or outlook.com, but you may have signed up using another email address, then the information is provided here .

For Windows privacy settings, see the guide here .

Apple

If you have an Apple ID for your iPhone, or Mac login tied to iCloud, then the guides you are after are here .

Google

Google gives you possibly the greatest level of granular control over your privacy of any of the MAGAF (Microsoft Apple Google Amazon Facebook) group, which is kind of ironic given how much we all ping them for privacy concerns.

If you have a Google sign in - usually @gmail.com, but you may have used another address, the guides are provided here .

From the one portal you can work your way through the privacy settings for all the services Google provides.

Amazon

Amazon has the least amount of privacy options of any. Here are the guides for Alexa and your Amazon account in general.

Facebook

The basic privacy settings guide for Facebook is here .

Which smartphone to buy

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 06:10:52 GMT

It’s a question I get a lot. I’m looking at getting a new phone, what should I get?

The answer is actually simpler today than it’s been before. If you use Apple Mac’s at home, or in your business, then the answer is to get an iPhone. For everyone else it’s either a Google Pixel phone or a Nokia.

The other question relating to this, not always asked, is should you buy it outright or get it on a plan. This depends more on whether you use Telstra or not, and if you’re a business or not.

First to the choice of phone. Key things to consider when buying a phone are - how will it work with the other devices I have - a computer, or smart home devices, etc., and how secure will it be.

With regards to how well it will work with a computer or other devices - this is where the question of whether you use Apple Macs comes in. If you do, then an iPhone will work best, there is little to no integration between an Android phone and Macs. Conversely if you use Windows PCs, then Android is the only real choice. There is little to no integration with iPhones and Windows - this is by choice by Apple - whereas Android phones have good integration. Want to see and respond to SMS messages - check, want to see the photos you recently took - check, want to see why your phone just binged - check. The integration is very tight, and getting tighter. Android and Windows is like iPhones and Macs.

Other considerations include quality of photos. Again unless you use Macs and thus the integration is important to you - then the answer is the Google Pixel 3/3 XL or 3a/3a XL for the best photographs.

The question then becomes which Android to get. For security, and quality of photos, the Google Pixel phones are the best choice. They have won every camera comparison since the current generation was released in October last year - against other Android phones and iPhones, and they receive monthly security updates from Google. Nokia phones are also a good choice, while they may not win photo comparisons, they do well enough, and they get the all important security updates every month for Android, just like the Google phones do.

With the Pixel 3 / 3 XL about to be replaced in October, if your after a flagship phone, then it would be best to hold off a couple of more months. If you are more price conscious then the Pixel 3a / 3a XL are your best bet. They were released in May, and cost less than half what a Samsung Galaxy S10, Pixel 3 / 3XL, or iPhone. In fact they cost as little as around a third of an iPhone, but have a better camera in them.

So having settled on a phone, the next question is whether to get it on a plan, or buy it outright?

If you are buying for a business, and the phone is for business use - buy it outright. You can claim it under “Instant Asset Writeoff” and there aren’t any savings to be had buying it through Telstra. Talk with your tax accountant for more information.

If you are buying as a consumer, and are with Telstra, there is generally no advantage to be gained by buying it on contract anymore (occasionally Telstra may offer a discount for doing so, but it’s no longer the norm). With the new plans introduced in June, you will now end up paying the full price over the 24 or 36 month term you choose. You will however still be locked into them for that time period. Finally, buying through a teclo limits your choices to the phones they have decided to sell. Buying outright gives you the freedom to change plans and providers on a month to month basis - unless your service is also put on a contract - which Telstra no longer does, along wit Belong, Aldi mobile, and a number of other providers, and gives you a greater freedom in which phone to buy.

Which web browser to use

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 06:05:40 GMT

Web browsers - we all use them, and in days gone by they were a source of contention in tech circles, in terms of which was better and which should be used.

Today those choices are both more complex, and simpler than ever before.

So what is the browser we recommend? Short answer - Google Chrome first, Vivaldi / Brave second.

A little history to begin with. Way back in the early days of the web, Microsoft had a browser called Internet Explorer 6. It was bundled with a little product called Windows, and so became the default browser for a while. This led to websites building to suit the specific quirks of that browser, and to this day some enterprise intranets, and so very legacy public facing websites, still rely on it.

Jump forward two decades, and today the browsers available number in the dozens, but they are largely based on 4 web engines (and these days it’s the web engines that drive development of web sites, not so much the brand sticker whacked on the front of it as a web browser name) - EdgeHTML (Microsoft Edge), Gecko (Firefox), Webkit (Safari) and Chromium (everyone else essentially).

Chromium is an open source web engine project started by Google - meaning numerous companies and individuals contribute to its development, and can base their own browsers on it’s code for free - which the majority of web users use in one guise or another. It is the new Internet Explorer 6. The most well known browser based on Chromium is of course none other than Google Chrome. Until the start of 2019 other web browsers based on Chromium included a web browser variant of Chromium (let’s call that the “pure” one), along with the likes of Vivaldi, Opera, Maxthon, Brave, Samsung Internet (the browser on their phones), and more. I say - until the start of 2019 - because as of this year, one more very well known browser is moving to use Chromium as it’s base code, and so will become just another variant, and that browser is none other than Microsoft Edge.

Once Microsoft has completed moving Edge away from its own web engine, to Chromium, that will essentially leave just Chromium, Gecko and Webkit as the primary web engines driving web browsers. Why does this matter? Because as always, developers will build for the most widely used platform - and in this case that is Chromium.

So what does this all mean for you? It’s simple really, for the best web browsing experience, you should use a Chromium based web browser. Google Chrome is the most used of these, so that is a good place to start, and is what we use ourselves (alongside an early preview of the Chromium version of Microsoft Edge). Good alternatives if you have some issues with Google, would be either Vivaldi or Brave. Vivaldi is highly customizable, and Brave is very privacy focused. Once the Chromium version of Edge is out of preview, it will become a strong option for those on Windows PCs as well. There is a Chromium based version available on Android phones already.

Final note - although Internet Explorer (based on the Trident web engine) is still around, even Microsoft recommend not using it - so if you still do, now is a good time to stop. It’s the least secure, least maintained, least functional of all the browsers available today. Both Microsoft Edge, and the Chromium based browsers, provide an extension that enables running websites that require IE inside them - specifically so that you can avoid actually running Internet Explorer.

Password Managers

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 06:01:25 GMT

As part of being more secure in the digital world, we recommend using a password manager.

Think of it as a more secure, easy to use equivalent of the stack of post-it notes, or notebook you’re probably using.

Password managers enable you to use more secure passwords easily, and can be used on Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android and iOS. They can also be used for securely storing notes.

There are many options available for password managers, including LastPass, 1Password, Dashlane, and others. We recommend BitWarden, and use it ourselves.

BitWarden is free to use for personal use, and $5 USD per month for 5 users, and $2 per additional user per month for business.

For more information on BitWarden visit https://bitwarden.com /

For any queries, or to request assistance with installing and using password management solutions, please reach out to us via our website, or via email at support@bgrdevelopment.com.au .

Network Security

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 05:58:13 GMT

Have you had your business, or home, network checked recently for how secure it is?

The starting point for the security of your devices (computers, smartphones etc.) is your network. Not securing it correctly is like having locks on your doors, but leaving your windows open.

I often come across both home and business networks that haven’t had even the most basic of precautions taken on the network security. The majority of the time this is because the provider of the equipment (typically telcos) haven’t made the owner aware of the need to change the default configuration, and sometimes it’s because another IT provider has installed equipment but failed to correctly configure it from a security perspective.

Did you know for instance that all modems from each telco have the same default username and password for all the modems from that telco? Or that by keeping the default wifi networks, your broadcasting who you use for a teclo, and thus what the likely model of router your using is? Information which makes it that little bit easier to break into your network.

Even when new equipment is installed, if it isn’t correctly configured it leaves you vulnerable.

In conjunction with Ocean Labs - a Melbourne based Ubiquiti certified specialist who we partner with for “enterprise grade” networks for small and medium businesses who want or need that extra level of networking - we recently reviewed the network of a local business, where Ubiquiti equipment had previously been installed by another IT provider, and found that it was incorrectly configured. As a business owner, or home customer, you trust that your IT provider is following best practices, however in this case, we found they hadn’t. We promptly resolved the issues and the network there is now as secure as it can be - additionally, through automated patching that we implemented, it will always have the latest security enhancements moving forwards.

So if you have had Ubiquiti equipment, or any other additional equipment installed above and beyond the default telco modem/wi-fi, contact us to arrange a free review of your network security. Similarly if you have a default telco modem/wifi but haven’t changed anything since it was installed, contact us to have a free review done.

We come in, review the network and hardware configurations, and provide recommendations on what should be done to bring it up to at least a base level of best practice IT security. We can then implement the recommendations on your agreement.

We also provide a range of options for improving both your home and business networks.

Anti-Virus Solutions

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 05:56:02 GMT

While the built in defences in Windows 10 are good, you could have better. The built in defences in Windows 10 provide basic coverage against viruses, malware and external attacks, however the best built-in protection only comes with Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 Enterprise where paired with an Office 365 Enterprise subscription.

There are many third-party offerings in the market from the likes of Symantec, McAfee, AVG, Avast, ESET, the list goes on. We dive into what we recommend and why.

When selecting a solution, you want to ensure it’s going to actually improve on the basic protections in Windows 10. That immediately rules out the free versions of AVG and Avast. The second thing is selecting a solution that rates well in antivirus tests, and that can protect more than just your Windows PC.

We recommend McAfee. It consistently scores near perfect or perfect results in monthly antivirus tests, and it’s Total Protection product includes not only anti-virus and malware protection, but ransomware and web browser based protection, protection from external attacks, tracking protection, along with an additional layer of SPAM protection in Outlook. The product can also be installed on Android and iOS devices to provide additional protections to both. Finally, it also comes with a Virus Protection Pledge, in that if you somehow do get infected, and McAfee cannot successfully remove the offending virus, they will refund the amount you paid for your subscription. There are terms and conditions on this you can view here .

We can, for a flat fee, assist with purchasing, installing and configuring the suite for you on all your devices. We use this solution ourselves.

For the home version, visit here , and for the small business version, visit here .

NBN Modem Performance

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 05:43:55 GMT

The ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority recently performed tests on 43 modems designed for use with the FttN/FttB (fibre to the node/basement) NBN from a mix of teclos and direct purchase (you purchase yourself from someone like us, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman etc). FttN is the technology used to connect homes and businesses in Swan Hill.

The results unsurprisingly (for us tech types) highlighted that the combination of the modem and wi-fi has a big impact on the speeds you get.

Also unsurprisingly (again for us tech types), it highlighted “Better Wi-Fi performance (and consequently better NBN performance) would be achieved by choosing a device using the 802.11ac standard (or next generation 802.11ax, also known as Wi-Fi 6) operating in the 5 GHz band. “. Older laptops, computers, smartphones, and the newest Samsungs all thus suffer by having older 802.11n WiFi in them, newer laptops, computers, smartphones and LG TVs all have the better 802.11ac WiFi.

Key outcomes showed when tested against a NBN 100/40 speed connection simulating a distance of 500m from the node -

Telstra modems

Optus modems

TPG

iiNet

The modem we sell

We then pair the modem with an appropriate dedicated WiFi router system depending on your particular circumstances (coverage i.e heavy brick homes or large areas to cover or performance i.e. gaming being the key driver).

The results showed that most devices reach at least 80% of the advertised capabilities of the modem at lengths up to 450m from the node.

So the biggest impacts to the internet speeds you see are -

Distance to the node
Quality of the copper coming into your home
Quality of the copper in your home (between the first phone point and where the modem is plugged in)
The modem you use
The WiFi router you use
The WiFi network configuration you use
The age and WiFi configuration of the device you’re using

We can help with the final 4 to improve things to their maximum. We also have a data certified electrician we work with if we believe the 3rd point might be the issue. The data certified is important as not all electricians have the proper training to understand what they are doing when it comes to network related cables.

Apple WWDC...

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 05:00:35 GMT

Each June Apple holds it's World Wide Developers Conference. While aimed at developers, it makes announcements about upcoming products and new versions of it's operating systems (OS) that should be of interest to anyone with Apple devices.

This year it announced iOS 13 (the next version of iOS for iPhones), iPadOS (a new variant of iOS aimed at iPads), MacOS Catalina (the next version of the OS for the entire Mac lineup), and WatchOS 6 (the next version of the OS for Apple Watches) and tvOS 13 (the OS for Apple TV).New Paragraph

iOS / iPadOS 13

A key item is the products that will run iOS 13 (and iPadOS).

If you currently use one of the following devices, then you're all good for getting the upgrade, and continuing to have a supported device for another 12 months. If however you use an older device, then it's time to start thinking about replacing it post October as it means no new security updates that come with the new version of iOS.

iPhone XS

iPhone XS Max

iPhone XR

iPhone X

iPhone 8

iPhone 8 Plus

iPhone 7

iPhone 7 Plus

iPhone 6S

iPhone 6S Plus

iPhone SE

iPod Touch (7th generation)

12.9" iPad Pro

11" iPad Pro

10.5" iPad Pro

9.7" iPad Pro

iPad (6th generation)

iPad (5th generation)

iPad Mini (5th generation)

iPad Mini 4

iPad Air (3rd generation)

iPad Air 2

Some of the changes announced are -

Dark Mode (similar to what's been seen previously on MacOS, Windows, Android)
Faster unlock
Apps open faster
Redesigned Reminders app
New curated views in Photos app (similar to suggested albums etc. in Google Photos)
Redesigned an enhanced photo editing
Video editing tools, including video rotation
Sign in with Apple
Apple Maps improvements
New Apple Maps features (many seen previously only in Google Maps / Here Maps)
New Notes app and Safari enhancements
QuickPath typing (Apple's version of Swiftype - swipe typing as seen previously on Android, Windows tablets, Windows Phone)
Siri gets a new voice and gets smarter
New AirPods features

For more on the new features, you can search "iOS 13 new features" on Google or Bing, or read one of the many articles written about them here.

macOS

The next version of MacOS will be called Catalina. The list of supported Macs follows, and if you're still using a Mac that isn't on the list, then it would be time to start looking at replacing it around October when Catalina is released.

12" MacBook (2015 and later)
MacBook Air (2012 and later)
MacBook Pro (2012 and later)
Mac mini (2012 and later)
iMac (2012 and later)
iMac Pro (2017)
Mac Pro (2013 and later)

Some of the changes announced for the next version include -

iTunes is retired. Replaced by 3 apps (Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Podcasts)
Sidecar turns your iPad into another display for your Mac
Screentime comes to Mac (previously only on iOS)
Safari, Mail and Reminders will all get new features

watchOS 6

watchOS 6 is the next release for Apple Watch. It will support the following models -

Apple Watch 4
Apple Watch 3
Apple Watch 2
Apple Watch Series 1

Basically every model except the version first model that was released.

Some of the new features include -

watchOS App Store - the Watch now gets it's own store
Streaming audio - the Watch will be able to stream audio independently of your iPhone
Hearing health - check on noise in your environment to assist with hearing health
New watch faces
Health updates

tvOS 13

No indication of which Apple TV devices were supported was provided.

Some of the new features announced are -

New home screen and multi-user support
Support for Xbox One and Playstation 4 controllers
Apple Music lyrics and screen saver

Business NBN Accredited Adviser

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 04:15:35 GMT

nbn™ brand disclaimer

nbn™ and other nbn™ Brands are trademarks of nbn co limited and used under licence.

We are pleased to announce that we are now a business nbn™ accredited adviser.

What does this mean you ask?

Well we gone through the accreditation program with nbn™ to achieve this, and that includes training on how the nbn™ access network is designed, the full range of services available and more. This places us in a position to provide you with the independent advice on making the most from the nbn™ for your phone and internet needs that you deserve.

nbn™ disclaimer

“Representatives have undertaken a short course on the nbn™ broadband access network. nbn™ does not sponsor, endorse or guarantee any advice given or representations made (including any recommendations to purchase goods and services or purchase telecommunication services over the nbn™ access network from a particular phone or internet service provider) and does not guarantee the accuracy of that advice or representation”.

Windows 10 May 2019 Update

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 04:03:43 GMT

The next major update for Windows 10 will start rolling out later this month. It will deploy to anyone who is currently on the Windows 10 October 2018 update.

Not sure if that is you? To check click on the Start menu, then Settings (the cog icon), then System and finally About (at the bottom of the menu on the left). On the screen that comes up, have a look at the Version number. If it says 1809 then you are on the "current" version of Windows 10 which is due to get the new May 2019 update.

Along with more updates and changes to Windows 10, it brings with it a new requirement for PCs receiving the update. Previously your PC only needed at least 16GB of free space, it will now require 32GB of free space to ensure a smoother upgrade.

You can check your free space by going to Windows Explorer and clicking on My PC and then checking how much space it indicates if free on the C: drive.

If you need assistance clearing space, or run into any upgrade problems, you can reach out to us via one of the following channels to get support -

Raise a request via the Help Centre

Email us at support@bgrdevelopment.com.au

Call us on 0444 560 622

For a review of the top new features visit this article at ZDNet .

Also this is an opportune time to provide a friendly reminder that Windows 7 will be going End of Life in January 2020, so in just on 8 months from now you will want to be running Windows 10. The paths to this is by either upgrading Windows on your existing computer if you haven't already, or by buying a new computer. If your existing computer is more than 5 years old, we recommend buying a new one to minimise the chance of problems occurring with Windows 10.

If you need assistance with upgrading, or would like to look into purchasing a new computer you can reach out to us via the following channels.

Raise a request via the Help Centre

Email us at enquiries@bgrdevelopment.com.au

Call us on 0444 560 622

Swan Hill Directory

jason.westrupp@bgrdevelopment.com.au (Jason Westrupp) — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 03:40:48 GMT

We have launched a new online Business Directory for Swan Hill and surrounding areas.

You can find the directory at swanhill.directory .

It uses a multi-tier pricing structure for business listings, starting with a free tier. The directory is free for everyone to access as well.

If you find we are missing any entries, please us the "Silver Tier" option on the About page (it's the free tier) to submit the details so we can add the entry - and repeat for provide as many different entry details as you find we might be missing.

In addition, we have a News and an Events section available to provide listings for at no cost for community groups, not for profits, social enterprises and sport clubs, and as part of the $12 per year (yes equivalent of $1 per month) package for all other businesses. More information is available on the About page for the site.

We are providing this as a service to the community in support of increasing the technical literacy and digital use levels in the Mallee.